Memoirs and family history research

As well as leaving a record of your life for your family and friends, writing about your past can be stimulating, fun and therapeutic.

It’s impossible to remember everything that happens to us, when things happened and who was there. But if you’re keen to get as much recorded as possible, writing and talking through your experiences with someone else can help jog your memory.

There are several ways I can help you to write your story. In all instances I can back up your own memories with research into the people, places and events you’ve encountered along the way.

Write your memories yourselfPerhaps you only need help structuring your work. Memoirs don’t need to follow a straight chronological line, and sometimes it’s best to focus on one or two areas of your life. Deciding which way to go can be difficult, but we may only need to have contact at the start and finish of your project.

Face to face meetingsAs you’d expect, this option involves meeting in person to talk through your life and experiences. This is often best done in your own home, where there is access to photographs and documents, but meetings can take place at maybe a café or library, if this would be more comfortable for you.

Telephone researchIt’s not always possible/practical for us to meet. In these instances research interviews can be done over the phone.